AUSTRALIA - Current proposals for the UK's national pensions savings scheme (NPSS) fail to address vital issues including fraud and employer insolvency, according to the architect of the Australian mandatory model.

SYNESIS Life has appointed Capita Hartshead as its third party administrator.

The trustee board of retirement education charity Life Academy has nominated Alan Pickering as its next chairman.

UK - Hermes Private Equity (HPE) has acquired Thomas Estates - owner of three large bingo clubs and 24 adult gaming centres for an undisclosed amount.

ASHMORE Group, the specialist emerging markets asset manager, is to list on the London Stock Exchange.

CREDIT Suisse Asset Management and Insight Investment have launched new absolute return funds for schemes using liability-driven investment.

SCHEME auditing and accounting bills could double under new proposals drawn up by The Pensions Regulator, consultants warn.

CANADA - Unions representing more than 20,000 Nova Scotia health care workers will now be able to bargain for better pensions.

SWEDEN - The e27bn fund AMF Pension upped its participation in the European small cap market and awarded a new e17m mandate to Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.

UK - Mark Wood, founder of Paternoster, said that investors had agreed to contribute a small amount to each of the firm's bidding quotes, allowing it to discount its prices.